Container for recording thermometer



Nov. 27, 1956 D. R. BRISTOL 2,772,016

CONTAINER FOR RECORDING THERMOMETER Filed Feb. 8, 1954 fl llllIMNHIIIIIM 32 23 I3 1 znsllk #5 20 gm wmm ll\III :2 3 I! m W n 37 i l T26 1 8 l0 I 2 35 1 l 1 E ,1 33 L J 8 9 II I /3 28 2 Fig. I

INVENTOR.

' Donald R. Bristol United States Patent CONTAINER FOR RECORDING THERMOMETER Donald R. Bristol, Seattle, Wash., assignor to Ryan Recording Thermometer Company, Seattle, Wasln, a corporation of Delaware Applicah'on February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,843

The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly to a container for housing a recording thermometer such as that shown in United States Patent No. 1,989,856, issued on February 5, 1935. This type of thermometer is commonly used in railway refrigerator cars, refrigerated trucks and trailers, etc., in which perishable food products are transported, in order to obtain an accurate record of the temperature maintained during the ourney. It is usually desired to have the thermometer protected against unauthorized tampering as well as sealed against moisture.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a durable sealed container of economical and similar construction for housing such a recording thermometer and which is locked against unauthorized entry. In the latter regard the invention further aims to provide a supporting bracket for the container arranged so that the strap of the railway-type seal will lock the bracket to the contamer, the bracket will prevent removal of the cover of the container, and the container will prevent removal of the bracket from a wall to which it is secured as by screws.

With yet additional objects and advantages in view which, with the foregoing, will appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims, the invention consists in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container and the supporting bracket therefor in operative position with the latter secured to a wall.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. l; and

Fig 3 is a perspective view of the closure unit of the container.

Referring to the drawings it is seen that the container has a generally cylindrical casing 8 closed at the bottom and having a closure unit 14 at the top. Starting at its base the container has a uniform diameter through the major part 9 of its length and then the container wall slopes outwardly at 10 to a relatively short enlarged intermediate section 11. At the upper end of this latter section the container again slopes outwardly by a shoulder 12 to a terminal rim section 13.

The closure unit 14 includes a disc-like cover 15 mating with the intermediate casing section 11 for sliding entry therein. This cover is circumferentially grooved at 16 to receive an elastic O-ring 17 having a thickness somewhat greater than the depth of the groove so as to be susceptible to compression by the container wall section 11 and thereby act as a moisture seal. An annular recess 21 is formed in the top of the cover 15 for receiving the head of a cap screw 18 and a handle 20. The caP screw 18 is threaded into a center-bore extending from the floor of the recess 21 through the C V It will be noted that the upper end of this center-bore is counterbored to receive an elastic moisture sealing ring 22 which is compressed in position by the head of the cap screw "ice 18. The latter is shown as having a hex-head and opposite side faces of this head are bored at 23to serve as journals for a pair of trunnion-like opposed end portions 24 formed at the end of the semi-circular gripping por tion 25 of the handle 20. These end portions 24 of the handle can be sprung apart for introduction into the bores 23. By this arrangement the gripping portion of the handle can be selectively pivoted to an upright position for use such as shown in Fig. 3 from a depressed position wholly within the recess 21 as illustrated in the other figures of the drawing. Secured to the base of the cover 15 by screws 26 is an inverted cup-like adapter 27 into which is fitted the body 28 of the recording thermometer, the latter being outlined by broken lines in Fig. 2.

j The rim section 13 is horizontally slotted adjacent its lower end at diametrically opposite positions such as at 30, 31. Adapted to extend through these slots is'a supporting arm 32 provided by an angle bracket. The other portion 34 of the bracket serves as an anchoring leg and for this purpose may be apertured to receive screws 35. Adjacent its extreme free end the supporting arm 32 is formed with an opening 36 for the reception of the straps of a standard railroad-type seal 37.

Preparatory to a journey, the bracket 33 is screwed or otherwise secured to the inside wall 38 of the vehicle compartment in which the temperature is to be continuously recorded, the bracket being arranged with its anchoring leg 34 substantially vertical and its supporting arms 32 uppermost. With the thermometer body 28 fitted into the adapter 27, it is lowered into the casing 8 and downward pressure is manually applied to the upper face of the cover 15 to force the same slightly below the level of the slots 30, 31. This causes a compression of the O-ring 17 between the floor of the cover groove 16 and the intermediate container section 11 so that the ring will seal off the inside of the casing from moisture. It will be noted that the upper sloped shoulder 12 of the casing helps to guide the cover from the enlarged rim section 13 into the intermediate section 11 as the cover is pressed down and that the lower shoulder 10 limits the downward movement of the cover. With the handle 20 in the recess 21, the casing 10 is then free to be threaded by its slots 30, 31 onto the supporting arm 32 and into front adjacency to the anchoring leg 34. Preparation is completed by affixing the railroad-type seal 37 to the free end of the supporting arm 32. By this arrangement the casing 10 prevents tampering with the screws 35, the supporting arm 32 locks the cover 15 in position, and the seal 37 insures against unauthorized removal of the container from the bracket 33. Upon arrival at the destination of the journey, the seal 37 can be broken by an authorized party and the container readily slipped oif of the bracket. The latter is usually left in place for subsequent use. When it is desired to inspect the temperature record of the journey, the thermometer 28 is easily withdrawn from the casing 10 by pulling on the handle 20.

The casing 10, cover 15, and adapter 27 are desirably made of a non-corrosive material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum so that the thermostatic elements of the recording thermometer will be accurately subjected to temperature changes within the compartment in which it is located.

The advantages of the invention, it is thought, will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the illustrated preferred embodiment. Minor changes will suggest themselves and may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, wherefore it is my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with the broadcast interpretation to which the employed language admits;

V WhatI claim is:

V "1; In a container, '21 generally cylindrical easing open at the top and formedwith a diametrically enlarged 'upper rim section terminating at its lower, end, by .a downwardly slopin guide shoulder, said rim section havin'ga pair of diametrically opposite slots located adjacent V groove soithat the casing can be 'slipped said slots onto a supporting arm when the gripping pc'rtieno'f the V handle is located within said reeess to thereby support said guide shoulder, a removable disc-like cover for said "pivotally mounteden Said head and having a gripping portion" arranged to beseleCt'iVeIy swung into'and ahove and moisture seal the open top of said casing when they are located withiri the casing and below said slots with the O-ring compressed below said guide'shoulderhetween s aid casing and the floor of said circumferential said recess, said cover ando-ring being adapted toiclose the container and atthe same'timel-ock said cover against withdrawal from the casing. p

2. The container of claim l in which an elastic inois-u V ture sealing ring is conlpi'essed between the V of the head of said cap screw and said cover.

underside References Gitedirithe'file of thisf iatent 1 STATES PATENTS 

